Broken Boy Soldiers is the debut album from The Raconteurs and they are a dream team of a rock group that the readers of NME could not have assembled in a better order. Jack White takes a predicted lead of guitar and vocals, but is also backed up by Brendan Benson in an almost identical role. This works well and is a good contrast from the Jack and Meg days. The lesser-known Patrick Keeler and Jack Lawrence take up jobs of drummer and bassist; they are somewhat under the spotlight as the replacement for Meg White (an easy feat it would seem).
When I first heard about The Raconteurs I saw them becoming the next Zeppelin or Rolling Stones. How could I be blamed? Jack White has already brought "Seven Nation Army" and "Fell In Love With A Girl" to the same iPods that are inhabited by 50 Cent and Usher, so surely a man with this power (and Brendan Benson) has rock and roll in the palm of his hand?
The Raconteurs are defined as a ‘supergroup,’ meaning they consist of members who have already found fame in other projects, White with the Stripes and Benson the Motor City singer-songwriter, however with the Raconteurs I took this title a lot more seriously than perhaps others may have. Considering that the White Stripes have managed to take almost raw blues and make it mainstream I figured a band of members that had so much potential and ability would become outstanding. Sadly, Broken Boy Soldiers does not stand out; it is not amazing, and I wish I could say on some level it was due to anything more than laziness.
I do not doubt at any point that this Motor City spawned quartet could have really broken barriers and forced main stream rock out of the cash cow it seems to have become, but they have gotten caught between mediocre garage band and good, but not great, pop rock. The first single, "Steady As She Goes", is a different sound for White, granted, but I could definitely see that with a few extra sessions on the drums from Meg and Jack picking up a bass to record over his guitar, this could be the new single from a Stripes EP.
Article comments
1 - Guppusmaximus
Well...I always thought The White Stripes sucked. With this offering, I think Mr. White has put himself in a better position. But, it still sounds like a complete rip-off of The Beatles and The Who. I think "Hands" is the most riveting track for anything that should be called Rock. As for the comment about Meg White, You must be kidding...Right? Anyone could secure a place above her even in the "Alright Drummers of All-Time".
2 - Alisha Karabinus
I'm a little disappointed in this band as well, and I'm a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE White Stripes fan.
But.
I really don't like Brendan Benson. I think he's bland and boring, and I can't say I was too excited about the prospect of his being anywhere near this. The other two fellows seemed pretty talented, so I hoped it would balance... but I have heard a few songs off this album and just wasn't impressed. Oh well.
3 - Christopher Rose
As I live and breathe, Alisha walks amongst us again! I'm not worthy!!
4 - favian
my only complaint was the albums length. However, you didnt really mention the standout tracks like together, blue veins (!!!!), the title track, and hands.
i can never give an acurate review the first time i hear an album i have high expectations for because i scruitinize the hell out of it, but by the second or third time, i learn to appreciate an album or realize if its awful. this album was the former for me. But i'm bothered by the fact that this entry didnt talk about the most amazing song on the album 'blue veins'
5 - Cameron Graham
I wouldn't call this a supergroup. Motor City Soundtrack isn't a huge success by any means and Brendan Benson (while reasonably talented) isn't that great or well know. Also, you make it sound as if the White Stripes are gone. THEY'RE NOT. Jack White has stated many times that he already has material for their next album and will be recording it soon. This band is simply a side project.
6 - Ri
Jack White has also made it very clear that The Raconteurs are not a side project, they just happen to be a band he started after the Stripes. But I must say I was disappointed in this album, heard the single and B-side a while ago with high hopes, just gotta hope he's saving his good shit for the Stripes.
7 - BTJ
I think this album is definitely a solid first outing, though not up to the potential either Jack White or Brendan Benson are capable of producing. But lets put everything into perspective... whether you love or hate the white stripes it is hard to deny that Jack White is one of the most talented rockers since Jimmy Page. Brendan Benson seems to bleed perfectly balanced pop ditties ie "cold hands (warm heart). And Keeler and Lawrence are more than capable musicians. With all that said I think Broken Boy Soldiers is merely a delightful taste of what is to come. I honestly feel that this band will revolutionize the state of rock and roll, by using this first album as a platform for more experimentation.
I think overall you just have to take this album for what it is. A bunch of friends coming together to live their own dream, making the music they want on their own terms, unhindered by record execs or self imposed boundaries. However, if they are going to blossom i think they need to embrace jack as the band's leader and feed off his energy.
Track reviews
Steady As She Goes- very simple guitar, bass combo with solid harmonies between jack and brendan
Hands- Babba o'reilly-esque guitar riff
Broken Boy soldiers- will probably become the biggest comparrison point between TWS and the Racs
Intimate Secretary- sounds almost like 2 completely different songs, beautifully combining together at the end
Together- simple acoustic pop song, very radio friendly (dont know if that is good or bad)
Level- Blues/synth rock beauty, best song on the album. Jacks guitar solo is out of this world. Guitar riff sounds like a chainsaw-PERFRECT
Store Bought Bones- querky rocker featuring blazing Skynyrd-esque slide guitar solo. Keeler's drum solo shows just how talented he really is.
Yellow Sun- Honestly i think there are only 2 bands that could make this song compelling without making it sound like a throw away; The Beatles and Raconteurs.
Call it A Day- Some will feel as though they are intentionally trying to sound like an americanized Beatles, and they almost pull it off...almost. This is where i would say give them another album or two to perfect their own stylings.
Blue Veins- you can almost feel the band melting together as one on this track. This is by far the bands most powerful, complete song on the album. After listening to the album all the way through you can see how the band started (simple pop song structures) and developed (soulful hamronies, and beautiful instrumentation/experimentation).
8 - EJ LE DJ
Pure Genius. Whatever people say, this is the best band in the world, next to the White Stripes. Only 5 days to go. Kick Out The Jams!!!
9 - James
Quit comparing them to The White Stripes. They are two enitirely separate entities. If The Raconteurs sounded just like Jack's other work, then there would be no point in even having another band.
Simply put, the band has always been described as a fun thing for all the members involved and a chance to pursue a sound wholly independent of their other musical outputs.
10 - JOHN
IT'S RAW! IT'S PERFECT! This is how Rock n' roll is supposed to sound. Finally a sigh of relief because music is coming back. It's good because it isn't over done. There's no ego! It's straight up rock n' roll. There isn't any comparison to any other band. They have their own sound. You can say they sound like Led Zepplin but you suddenly realize they don't. The only comparison is the Beatles maybe because of the lyrics. But, the lyrics fit the songs and it's not like the Beatles because the lyrics are still have Jack White's strange idea. And the term Supergroup is for the lame writers who think they know music. This is just a Rock n' roll band. No garage, no alternative or whatever lame label the writers like to give it. It's ROCK N' ROLL!
11 - brenton
yeh good album 9/10 very well done everyone involved. though a bit short i mean the white stripes first album was 17 tracks